Glossary

burden of disease (and injury): The quantified impact of a disease or injury on a population using the disability-adjusted life year (DALY) measure.

disability: In burden of disease analysis, any departure from an ideal health state.

disability-adjusted life years (DALY): A year of healthy life lost, either through premature death or living with disability due to illness or injury.

fatal burden: The burden from dying prematurely as measured by years of life lost. Often used synonymously with years of life lost, and also referred to as ‘life lost’.

morbidity: Ill health in an individual, and levels of ill health in a population or group.

mortality: Death.

non-fatal burden: The burden from living with ill health as measured by years lived with disability. Often used synonymously with years lived with disability, and also referred to as ‘health loss’ in this ABDS 2011 reports.

risk factor: Any factor that causes or increases the likelihood of a health disorder or other unwanted condition or event.

years lived with disability (YLD): Measures the years of what could have been a healthy life that were instead spent in states of less than full health. YLD represent non-fatal burden.

years of life lost (YLL): Measures years of life lost due to premature death, defined as dying before the global ideal life span at the age of death. YLL represent fatal burden.